Mortality Associated with Surgical Site Infections Following Cardiac Surgery: Insights from the International ID-IRI Study.

Objectives: Surgical site infections (SSIs) after cardiac surgery increase morbidity and mortality rates. This multicenter study aimed to identify mortality risk factors associated with SSIs after heart surgery.

Methods: Conducted from January to March 2023, this prospective study included 167 patients aged >16 years with post-heart surgery SSIs.

Enhancing Treatment Decisions for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations: A Reinforcement Learning Approach.

Background: Although higher-generation TKIs are associated with improved progression-free survival in advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations, the optimal selection of TKI treatment remains uncertain. To address this gap, we developed a web application powered by a reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm to assist in guiding initial TKI treatment decisions.

Methods: Clinical and mutational data from advanced NSCLC patients were retrospectively collected from 14 medical centers.

Association Between ABO Blood Group, Peripheral Artery Disease Lesion Severity, and Coronary Artery Disease Coexistence.

Background: This study aims to investigate the relationship between ABO blood groups and the severity of peripheral artery disease (PAD) lesions, the coexistence of coronary artery disease (CAD) with PAD, and to identify which blood groups may be more predisposed to these conditions.

Methods: This study, which has a single-center and retrospective design, includes 305 patients diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (PAD) between 2015 and 2021. The patients were selected from those with at least 50% stenosis detected by computed tomography (CT) angiography.

Phenotypes linked to duplication upstream of SOX9: New insights into presentation and diagnosis.

Context: Duplications occurring upstream of the SOX9 gene have been identified in a limited subset of patients with 46,XX testicular/ovotesticular differences/disorders of sex development (DSD). However, comprehensive understanding regarding their clinical presentation and diagnosis is limited.

Objective: To gain further insight into the diagnosis of a large cohort of 46,XX individuals with duplications upstream of SOX9.

National Registry for Home Mechanical Ventilation in Children from Turkey.

Background: Advances in neonatal and pediatric intensive care have improved patient survival rates, emphasizing the need for respiratory support in cases of chronic respiratory failure, resulting in the establishment of the Turkish National Pediatric Patients Receiving Home Mechanical Ventilation (HMV) Support Registration System in 2023. This study aims to present the initial findings of the registry.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, epidemiological and demographic data were obtained from the registry and compared between invasive ventilation (IV) and non-IV (NIV) groups.

Regorafenib Treatment for Recurrent Glioblastoma Beyond Bevacizumab-Based Therapy: A Large, Multicenter, Real-Life Study.

Background/objectives: In the REGOMA trial, regorafenib demonstrated an overall survival advantage over lomustine, and it has become a recommended treatment for recurrent glioblastoma in guidelines. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of regorafenib as a third-line treatment for patients with recurrent glioblastoma who progressed while taking bevacizumab-based therapy.

Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study in Turkey included 65 patients treated between 2021 and 2023 across 19 oncology centers.

Superiority of Pathologic Lymph Node Ratio over Positive Lymph Node Count in Operated Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Aim: In early-stage breast cancer, the axillary lymph nodes play a crucial role in determining the prognosis of the disease. The rate of lymph node involvement might be a more valuable prognostic factor than the number of positive lymph nodes. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether the lymph node ratio (LNR) is a superior prognostic indicator compared to the pathologic lymph node count in early-stage disease.

Sex differences in clinical and polysomnographic features of obstructive sleep apnea: The Turkish sleep apnea database (TURKAPNE) cohort.

Background: Previous reports from relatively small clinical cohorts have suggested that the clinical presentation of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) differs between men and women.

Objective: We aimed to explore sex differences in clinical and polysomnographic features of OSA in a large nationwide registry.

Methods: Participants from the ongoing Turkish Sleep Apnea Database (TURKAPNE) Study from 34 centers were included in the current analysis.

Clinical and molecular spectrum along with genotype-phenotype correlation of 25 patients diagnosed with 3 M syndrome: a study from Turkey.

Unlabelled: 3 M syndrome is a well-known autosomal recessive skeletal genetic disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the CUL7, OBSL1, and CCDC8 genes. Affected individuals exhibit profound pre- and postnatal growth retardation, distinctive facial features with normal intelligence. This study aims to provide insight into the comprehensive evaluation of clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings, expand the mutational spectrum of the disease, and establish a genotype-phenotype correlation in the present cases.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Prognostic Index in Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infection.

Background: Considering the consequences of shunt infection, the importance of early diagnosis and effective treatment becomes clear. However, there is no clear parameter to predict the management of shunt infection. Since we thought that an index including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocyte, glucose, and protein levels may affect treatment guidance, we aimed to investigate its effect on prognosis using the index we defined as CSF prognostic index.

Retrospective analysis of hemophilia B in Turkey: identifying main characteristics and treatment options.

Background: Hemophilia B (HB), an X-linked recessive inherited bleeding disorder, exhibits a high prevalence among males.

Objectives: To present the first national cohort of persons with HB to define the demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment patterns in Turkey.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included 433 alive persons with HB registered in 35 centers between 1961 and 2018.

Clinical Features and Natural Course of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Turkey: A Multicenter Study.

Introduction: The natural history, the progression of a disease process in an individual over time, has not yet been fully elucidated in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). In this large multicenter study, we aimed to investigate the natural history of HS and its gender differences.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 827 patients.

Identifying DNA Variants in a Turkish Cohort with Inner Ear Anomalies.

To determine the genetic causes of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) associated with inner ear anomalies, 11 unrelated Turkish individuals diagnosed with SNHL and an inner ear anomaly using temporal bone computed tomography and inner ear magnetic resonance imaging underwent exome or whole genome sequencing to identify underlying genetic defects. None of the individuals was diagnosed with a recognized syndrome. Four of the 11 probands were homozygous for variants, , , , and .

Identifying risk factors for blood culture negative infective endocarditis: An international ID-IRI study.

Background: Blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) is a diagnostic challenge, therefore our objective was to pinpoint high-risk cohorts for BCNE.

Methods: The study included adult patients with definite endocarditis. Data were collected via the Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI).

The Hepatic Phase of Fascioliasis Complicated with Liver Bleeding: Presentation of Three Cases.

Bleeding is a very rare complication of species ( or ) infection. We present here three cases of subcapsular liver bleeding caused by the hepatic phase of spp. infection in patients, two of whom were women, aged 22, 66, and 84 years in Diyarbakir Province, southeastern Turkey.

Risk factors for relapse after discontinuation of tenofovir or entecavir in hepatitis B e antigen-negative patients.

Background And Aim: This study aimed to define the relapse frequency and risk determinants in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who discontinued nucleoside analog (NA) treatment, were HBeAg-negative, and had achieved both a virological and biochemical response.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed patients with HBeAg-negative CHB who received antiviral therapy for at least 65 months between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2020. These patients discontinued treatment after demonstrating a biochemical and virological response and were evaluated at 6, 12, and 24 months post-treatment discontinuation.

The role of non-invasive oscillometric method to detect aortic stiffness in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Introduction: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a biochemical condition that is diagnosed when peripheral free thyroid hormone levels are within normal reference laboratory range but serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are mildly elevated. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between SCH and arterial stiffness using two different non-invasive methods, including echocardiography and oscillometric arteriography.

Material And Methods: The study included 33 newly diagnosed SCH patients and 34 age- and gender-matched healthy controls.

Mesenteric Panniculitis as a Side Effect of Nivolumab in a Patient with Larnyngeal Cancer.

Mesenteric panniculitis is rare, usually idiopathic, caused by inflammation of the fatty tissue of the mesentery, especially in the small intestine. The relation between cancer and mesenteric panniculitis is unclear. In some studies, mesenteric pannicullitis precedes cancer diagnosis; on the other hand, some studies suggest no correlations.